The Current
LOSD News • Feb. 26, 2021
In this Message:
Message from the Superintendent
Classified School Employees Week
Remembering Ezekiel Crowder
Bus Drivers Needed for Schools to Open
Change Requests for Middle and High Schools
Water Tower Incident: A Call for Compassion and Care
Bias and Racial Incident Reporting Form and Info
Meal Distribution Schedule Changing
Season 2 Spectator Policy for the Three Rivers League 2020-21
School Board Filing Deadline March 18
Kindergarten Registration Open
Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Registration Open
Bond Accountability Committee Meeting
Suicide Prevention Training: A Few Open Spots
Climate Change Discussion March 4
Interact Club Talent Show Rescheduled March 6
LOSD CARES Workshop March 10
Recommended Quarantining After Travel
Now Accepting Applications for Foundation Board of Directors
Community Reminders:
- Rotary's SASEE Award Nominations
Regular Reminders:
- Get Social: Follow, Share, Engage @wearelosd
- What's New at Community School
- Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
- 3 Ws: Watch Distance, Wear Mask, Wash Hands
- Safe Oregon
Message from the Superintendent
This has been a bittersweet week. It was wonderful to welcome back our youngest learners, thus opening the doors for all K-5 in-person/hybrid students by next week, and secondary students soon. We were also heartbroken by the loss of a child in our community. The poignancy of this time is very real. We have heard the outcry from our community, and we were already in the planning stages for secondary to return. The surveys to secondary students and families this week signal momentum in our plans to return middle and high school students to in-person/hybrid and we will continue to communicate plans as they are developing rapidly.
There is nothing more important than the children we serve and I am committed to breaking through barriers to return to in-person/hybrid for any and all students who want this, while maintaining the online option for those who chose that. Is important for families to know what some of these impediments are. For one, we do not currently have enough bus drivers as many have left Student Transportation of America (STA) company recently. STA has been borrowing drivers from as far away as Corvallis. We are actively helping in the recruitment of bus drivers. Another potential challenge will be that, if we are able to return before fourth quarter, in order to accommodate those who choose to change models (which we are obligated to offer), this may create some disruption in class rosters and teacher/student placement. It is important for all to be aware of these as we move forward.
Our community is built on care and connection. During this time of heightened tensions, we need more than ever to call upon our inner compassion, empathy and care. While it is easy to throw verbal and social media stones, the overriding imperative is to support one another. I hope our community will resist the urge to give in to attacking those they deem as wrong, and instead strive to bridge differences to support our children and a successful return to school.
We are all here in service to students. Let us all turn our attention to the children in our community, and model care as we continue the momentum to returning to in-person/hybrid classes soon.
Classified School Employees Week
Cooking, cleaning, fixing, driving, scheduling and supporting students...classified employees do it all! Your work has always been essential to Oregon students, schools and communities. Classified School Employees Appreciation Week, March 1-5, celebrates the people who keep our schools running and make it possible for students to learn in safe, supportive environments. Please join in thanking our classified school employees for the incredible, important work they have always done and the way they have gone above and beyond during the pandemic. We in LOSD are grateful for you.
Remembering Ezekiel Crowder
Lily and John Crowder, parents of Lakeridge sophomore Ezekiel Crowder have given us permission to share their message below to all our community.
Ezekiel has entered the eternal joy and warm embrace of Christ, whose light shone through his life. His celebration of life service will be held this Saturday, Feb. 27 at Rolling Hills Community Church, 3550 SW Borland Rd., Tualatin with seating between 1-1:30 pm. All are welcome.
Bus Drivers Needed for Schools to Open
STA specifically needs to hire 17 bus drivers in order for LOSD middle and high schools to begin transitioning to Hybrid in-person.
If you or someone you know is interested in working as a bus driver, please consider applying for this very important job. It is a great job for stay at home parents, retirees or anyone looking for work. STA provides paid training for good drivers. Candidates will need have a clean driving record with at least three years of personal driving experience, be able to pass a DOT physical, pre-employment drug test and criminal background check and be over 21 years of age.
Change Requests for Middle and High Schools
To properly prepare to transition our middle and high school students to in-person, we need to know which students wish to change educational models. Earlier this week, middle and high school parents-guardians received email messages from Mary Kay Larson that included important background information regarding change requests, specific details about the two models, and a form needing completion ONLY if requesting a change to your student’s educational model to either In-person/Hybrid OR LO Online. Please see these emails for details.
We are aware of other surveys being circulated and need to make sure parents-guardians do not confuse them with the essential change request forms being used by the district. Below are links to the district’s change request forms, sent in Mary Kay’s email. Please complete one for each student, only if requesting a change. Forms are due for middle and high school students by Monday, March 1 and Thursday, March 4 at 3 p.m., respectively.
Lake Oswego Middle School Change Request Form due March 1
Lakeridge Middle School Change Request Form due March 1
Lake Oswego High School Change Request Form due March 4
Lakeridge High School Change Request Form due March 4
In addition to schedule changes, each high school is planning opportunities for as many students and staff, as possible, to come into each high school as soon as we can. We are striving to be creative and flexible and are considering a variety of ways to provide in-person opportunities for many students who choose them during this time. We anticipate being able to share more details soon.
Water Tower Incident: A Call for Compassion and Care
It has come to our attention that one of the City’s water towers had been defaced with hurtful and hateful graffiti. Upon learning this, we immediately contacted the City to discuss and ensure clean up, which the City has completed.
LOSD stands firm in our value of embracing diversity in all its forms, and condemns any act of hate that negatively affects our students and families of color. Most importantly, hateful language and symbols hurt the entire community and diminish the spirit of care that we advocate to strengthen. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that every child and adult feels safe and that our differences and similarities as human beings are valued and respected.
We are living in an exceedingly difficult era. People across our community and country are hurting in many ways. This is a time for increased compassion for one another and we implore each member of our community to reflect on how they are contributing to, or can contribute to, a greater sense of connection, understanding and care.
Bias and Racial Incident Reporting Form and Info
We want LOSD schools to be a safe, welcoming, and loving space where all have the opportunity to be themselves and thrive socially and academically. If you have witnessed or experienced any harm directed to any student, teacher, or staff member based on perceived or actual identity, you can report to your administrator, a trusted staff member, by using the new levels link below or anonymously to SafeOregon.
High School: Hate Speech and Microaggressions
Meal Distribution Schedule Changing
With the transition to Hybrid in-person at our elementary schools, the grab and go meal distribution schedule will be changing over the next two weeks. Below is the transition schedule.
Monday, Mar. 1 new grab-and-go curbside distribution time at the elementary schools (LG,RG) to accommodate hybrid students classroom schedule.
Thursday, Mar. 4 elementary grab-and-go curbside distribution discontinued and elementary classroom distribution to students begins. Grab-and-go meals will be distributed to students everyday students are in the classrooms. More detailed information coming next week.
Now - end of school year high schools grab-and-go curbside distribution continues for LOonline
students, secondary students, homeschooled students, and community students.
Please click here for a message with more information about the grab and go meal distribution for elementary schools.
Season 2 Spectator Policy for the Three Rivers League 2020-21
As we embark on the first interscholastic sports competitions in almost a calendar year, we are excited to offer the chance for our student-athletes to participate in athletic competition. In preparation for the season, our principals, athletic directors, coaches, and other support staff have spent a great deal of time reviewing the guidance provided by Governor, OHA, and OSAA and planning for our athletic events’ safe conduct. Based on the restrictions placed on interscholastic activities as a result of the pandemic, the TRL has determined that only certified coaches, athletes, and approved event personnel will be allowed to attend contests in person. If unauthorized persons attend a competition, play will be suspended until that individual leaves the premises.
In most cases, even optimistic projections for the Risk Levels for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties provide hard ceilings for attendance numbers that are restrictive enough to make it difficult for schools to run events with the required number of event personnel, coaches and athletes. Including spectators has proven prohibitive for a number of reasons. The OHA has indicated that people who remain in their vehicles in the parking lot to view a contest would not count toward the venue capacity limit. However, people congregating outside of their vehicles along a fence line at a venue would be considered spectators and count toward the venue capacity limit.
Our top priority is to allow our student-athletes to compete and complete the season safely. We understand the importance of allowing our families, friends, and fans to watch as many contests as possible. To assist in this, the Three Rivers League member schools are working in partnership with the NFHS Network to stream as many games as possible, including all varsity contests. Host Athletic Directors will be posting links to their broadcasts on their OSAA schedules. Fans may search the NFHS Network to find archived games as well as scheduled live streams. For facilities without a Pixellot camera, we will work with teams to stream those contests.
We know it will not be the same without friends and family in the stands this spring. Still, we understand how important it is to provide this opportunity for our student-athletes to “dare greatly” in the face of the adversity of the past 12 months, regardless of what precautions we have to take to make it happen. Many feared we would be able to arrive at this point. We appreciate the support it took to get here and thank the athletes, parents, and coaches who made it possible.
School Board Filing Deadline March 18
LO School Board elections are coming up. The filing deadline is March 18, 2021. Click here for more information about Clackamas County elections.
LO School Board members serve four-year terms. Following are the board positions up for election this year:
- Position 2: Currently held by Neelam Gupta
- Position 3: Currently held by Sara Pocklington
- Position 4: Currently held by Liz Hartman
For more information about the LO School Board, please visit the district website School Board page or the Oregon School Boards Association at www.osba.org
Kindergarten Registration Open
Registration for kindergarteners, and all students who are new to LOSD, is now open online on the district website enrollment page.
An informational video, Kindergarten Counts, is available at each elementary school website Kindergarten Counts will provide parents and guardians an opportunity to meet the principal and kindergarten teachers. You will learn about several upcoming opportunities for your new student between now and the first day of school.
Plan to register and attend Kindergarten Counts at your student's resident elementary school. Visit losdschools.org to verify. LOSD welcomes kindergarteners who will be five years old by Sept. 1.
Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Registration Now Open
The Spanish Immersion kindergarten application is now available: 2021-22 APPLICATION FORM
- Application Deadline: March 12, 2021, 3:30 p.m.
- Lottery Date: March 17, 2021, 3:00 p.m.*
- Lottery Notification: March 19, 2021
*Should the district receive more applications than spaces available, a lottery will be held. Those wishing to participate in the lottery must submit their application to the District Administration Office no later than 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021.
*Younger siblings of students currently in kindergarten through 4th grade of the Spanish Immersion program have priority for enrollment only at the kindergarten level. Sibling priority does not apply to current siblings on the waitlist. If you currently have a child enrolled in LOSD’s kindergarten through 4th grade Spanish immersion program, you will have the first choice for enrollment in the kindergarten program. You will not be entered into the lottery, but you must submit an application to the program prior to the March 12, 2021 (3:30 p.m.) lottery deadline to be assured a slot. Slots not filled from sibling applications will be available in the general lottery.
Visit the LOSD Spanish Immersion Website for more details.
Bond Accountability Committee Meeting
All are welcome to observe the committee meeting.
Thursday, Mar. 4
4-6 p.m.
You can observe the meeting and listen to the discussion remotely by calling +1 (786) 535-3211 Access Code: 276-300-565.
Suicide Prevention Training: A Few Open Spots
LOSD parents and guardians of middle and high school students are invited to join Counselor and QPR Trainer Marcy Watts for a suicide prevention training called QPR. Space in the QPR session is limited, and a few spots are still open. If more LOSD parents-guardians sign up than can fit in the sessions next week, a wait list will be created and more sessions will be set up.
Suicide prevention training is one prong of LOSD's comprehensive suicide prevention policy. Our Wellness Team is always looking for new ways to reach out to our students and their families to support their mental health and provide resources. If you have other concerns that are unique from this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor and/or social worker.
March 2, 2021
Two session times for LOSD parents-guardians (only attend one session)
Morning 11:30 a.m - 1 p.m.
Evening 6-7:30 p.m.
What does QPR mean?
As someone who may be in the best possible position to prevent a suicide, you will find that QPR is designed to help you save a life. QPR consists of these three skills:
Question...a person about suicide
Persuade....someone to get help and,
Refer....someone to the appropriate resource.
QPR is not a form of counseling or treatment. Rather it is intended to offer hope through positive action. By learning QPR, you will come to recognize the warning signs, clues, and suicidal communications of people in trouble, and gain skills to act vigorously to prevent a possible tragedy.
Registration for this class is limited to 60 people and is designed for parents and guardians of middle and high school students. If there is more interest we will set a date for a second training. Click here to register.
Important Note: QPR requires that all participants have their cameras on at all times during this training. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, we need to ensure the safety and well being of all attendees. Feel free to reach out to Marcy Watts if you have any questions or concerns about this at wattsm@loswego.k12.or.us
Climate Change Discussion March 4
Oregon author, Emma Marris, will be speaking about "Fighting Climate Change When Everything Feels Overwhelming" at the Lake Oswego High School Green Team meeting. All are welcome to participate in the session.
Thursday, Mar. 4
12-1 p.m.
https://loswego-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/81921293040
Emma Marris has written for National Geographic, The New York Times, and Nature, as well as authored books on nature and people. Her newest, Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World, comes out this summer.
Emma Marris will elaborate on her belief in taking action in the face of climate change: We never used to have a "smoke season" in Oregon, but increasingly, climate change is making massive wildfires an annual occurrence in our state. This talk will present a realistic, science-based approach to tackling climate change that anyone can engage with--and it doesn't require feeling guilty all the time. The climate has already changed, and it will change more; some things will be lost. But much can still be saved. A good future for planet Earth is still achievable.
Until then, you might enjoy her Ted Talk or New York Times piece. You can read more about her here.
Interact Club Talent Show March 6
All are welcome to the Interact Club Talent Show Fundraiser supporting Sunshine Division, an organization that strives to help fight hunger, especially during the pandemic.
Rescheduled for March 6
3-4 p.m.
The performance lineup will include many fun acts from our students, including a short theatrical play, unicycling and more. Tickets by donation accepted by clicking here. Any questions or concerns? Contact lointeractclub@gmail.com.
LOSD CARES Workshop March 10
Join our LOSD community and caregivers on Zoom for a virtual workshop -- Parenting in a Pandemic: Embracing Transitions in Partnerships with Your Kids -- with Psychologists Kristin Valerius, Ph.D. and Lisa Snow, Psy.D of Sundstrom Clinical Services.
Wednesday, Mar. 10
5-6:30 p.m.
Recommended Quarantining After Travel
With many in our community transitioning to in-person learning and Spring Break coming up at the end of March, it’s a good time to clarify the statewide guidance for travel. It’s recommended that people who are not vaccinated and who travel outside of the state of Oregon consider quarantining upon returning home.
LOSD is asking people to consider quarantining, but it is not required. Schools will not be keeping track of travel plans. It is up to each person and family to decide. If students choose to quarantine, instructional materials will be provided while out of school.
Per the Oregon Statewide Guidance for Travel, people are recommended to practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival in the state and limit their interactions to their immediate household. People may consider ending quarantine if they have had no symptoms: after 10 days with no testing or after 7 days with an antigen or PCR test.
Now Accepting Applications for Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors
Are you interested in contributing to a dynamic volunteer organization dedicated to advancing our community's commitment to educational excellence?
Please consider applying for the Lake Oswego Schools Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation is seeking parents/guardians, students and community residents to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members must demonstrate a commitment to the Foundation, the School District and the Lake Oswego community.
The term for new board members will begin June 2021. Board members commit to a two-year term and may serve up to three terms. Please click HERE to access the online application form. The application provides more information about being a board member.
Interested people should submit applications by Friday, April 9, 2021. The Nominating committee will review applications and conduct interviews in the April time frame. If you are unable to access the application, please contact woolfw@loswego.k12.or.us to receive a pdf version of the application.
Click here for the Foundation prospective board member application.
Rotary's SASEE Award Nominations Open
Lake Oswego Rotary Club is seeking nominees for this year's SASEE Awards, which honor service above self in educational excellence.
Do you know an educator, support staff member, student or citizen who demonstrates a commitment to education through work, projects and activities that emphasize "service above self?" LO Rotary Club wants to recognize and support the people who make education in Lake Oswego exceptional.
Please click here to learn more and nominate someone.
LO Rotary Club awards thousands of dollars in cash and scholarships in several SASEE categories. In each case, SASEE Award recipients have the opportunity to “pay it forward” by passing their monetary award on to their school or project.
- Teachers, administrators and support staff: $1,000 for their school or project
- Students: $1,000 for their school or project
- Citizens: $2,500 scholarships awarded in their names to students who also demonstrate "service above self"
Get Social: Follow, Share, Engage @wearelosd
What's New at Community School?
The LOSD Community School is offering virtual enrichment programs and activities for students of all ages including culinary, STEM, arts, language, and athletics.
Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App
3 Ws: Watch Distance, Wear Mask, Wash Hands
SafeOregon
Parents who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.
SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.
(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)
Lake Oswego School District
Email: info@loswego.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.losdschools.org
Location: 2455 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 534-2000
Facebook: facebook.com/LOSDProud
Twitter: @LOSD_Proud